Patagonia likes to present themselves as a responsible
company that takes conservation and sustainability very
seriously. Apparently, this sense of responsibility ends when it
comes to the protection of animals. A company document as well
as research carried out by the international animal welfare
organisation FOUR PAWS prove that Patagonia sold down plucked
from live animals. The company is hiding behind the misleading
term “moult plucking”, at the same time admitting that the geese
are plucked up to three times in their lifes. Undercover
research which FOUR PAWS undertook in twelve Hungarian farms
reveals the cruel reality behind the euphemistic term “moult
plucking”: the animal-rights activists presented shocking
footage of the brutal process.

“Regardless whether the birds are in moult or not - the
plucking causes severe injuries that in many cases even demand
stitches. The animals are so stressed that they panic and crush
themselves to death in the corners of the barns. After this
cruel procedure, many geese are left behind with broken wings,
dying”, describes FOUR PAWS feather plucking expert Marcus
Mueller. “Moult plucking clearly is an absolutely terrible form
of animal torture, we can name dozens of examples. The reason
why the down industry is not ready to present any “good”
examples of moult plucking is that there are none”, concludes
Mueller.

Even though live feather plucking is illegal within the EU,
“moult plucking”, is an accepted excuse of the industry to
continue the cruel practice, only under a new name. This is
comparable to the caging of hens which is still allowed until
2012 if the hens are kept in alibi-cages. FOUR PAWS does not
stand alone fighting “moult plucking”: Europe’s ten most
important producers of goose meat as well as ten thousands
outraged members of the public demand a general ban of all
feathers and down which were taken from live animals.

Patagonia invokes on the down supplier “Allied Feather & Down
Corporation”. This company in turn receives their down from the
German wholesaler Rohdex. Official documents from US customs
authorities prove that the Allied Feather & Down Corporation
bought tons of down from Rohdex. Only a few weeks ago, FOUR PAWS
researchers were able to film Rohdex purchasing down from
exactly the same animals which were filmed being live plucked in
Hungary. Even the Rohdex workers commented that these down came
from the illegal cruel practice. The Rohdex purchaser was
interested to know how it was possible to still live pluck
considering that there has been so much negative publicity
around the topic and that all important traders bar live feather
plucking.

As a consequence, FOUR PAWS is calling upon Patagonia to
immediately remove all products containing feathers and down
taken from live animals from their range and alternatively offer
animal-friendly and equally good products such as siliconized
hollow fibers. “It is appalling that a company like Patagonia
should use down and feathers from tortured animals”, concludes
Mueller.

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